Top 10 Boxers of the 1980s - Part 1

Top 10 Boxers of the 1980s - part 1

Who succeeded Muhammad Ali and one of the most talented generations in boxing

After a highly successful period in the 1960s and 1970s, boxing moved to another level in the next decade. A level that is due to a number of Muhammad Ali-inspired competitors who want to come close to his performance. This undoubtedly increases the competition, and not only in the heavyweight division. The 1980s will be remembered for the welterweight and middleweight rivalry. The names of Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hurst and Roberto Duran are the most frequently mentioned by experts and fans. In addition to these four, however, we're going to offer you six more people who deserve to be on our top 10 boxers of the 80s ranking, which we'll bring to you in two parts.

The last train to hit the top ten catches Evander Holyfield. Yes, he's one of the main reasons the heavyweight division returned to its prime in the 90s and dominated the next decade, but he's been laying the groundwork for that dominance since 1984. The American won bronze at the Los Angeles Games in the light heavyweight division and turned professional soon after. Less than two years later, he managed to dethrone World Boxing Association light heavyweight champion Dwight Muhammad Qavi. In only his twelfth fight in the professional ring, he achieved the most famous success of his career and in a 15-round fight. In the next two years, he won the IBF and WBC championship belts to become an unprecedented champion. And in 1988 he started boxing in the heavyweight division and in the years leading up to the end of the decade he managed to win matches against names like Alex Stewart, Pinklan Thomas and Michael Doakes.

Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez is next in the ranking. Many of his notable matches were also part of the strong following decade, but by the late 1980s he was already established as a star in the sport. Chavez won the WBC light welterweight title in 1984 and ended the decade undefeated in the professional ring. Some experts claim that he simply did not have serious competition, but he still has to go to the ring several times a year. However, Chavez has successful defenses against the likes of Edwin Rosario, Roger Mayweather, Rafael Limón and Jose Luis Ramirez, making him a big name in boxing.

It's also time for a serious name in the heavyweight division. It is about Larry Holmes, who grabbed the vacant world title after a success over Ken Norton back in 1978, who was one of the best fighters in the division. Holmes managed to defend his distinction until the mid-1980s, and without any particular problems. The Georgia native has been able to establish dominance after some incredible times in the 1970s in the division. But the lack of luster and comparisons to the previous generation lead to a huge understatement. His amazing straights, lateral walk and strong chin help him a lot in his career. In 1985, however, he lost his belt to Michael Spinks, and then conceded in the rematch. Interestingly, in both matches he lost by unanimous decision, and especially in the fight where he tried to regain the title, many people felt that the referees gave Spinks too much of an advantage. After a two-year absence due to these bouts and the fact that he felt aggrieved by the judge's decision, he returned to face Mike Tyson, but was knocked down in the fourth round. However, in the 1990s, Holmes again got into the ring and will be remembered as one of the best boxers who made a serious career after crossing the 40-year mark.

Seventh is the incomparable boxer from Panama, Roberto Duran. In the 1970s, he dominated the lightweight division and was considered the division's greatest boxer of all time. It's hard to go without him in the next decade as "Iron Hands", as he was nicknamed, started the 80's by handing Ray Leonard his first welterweight loss and taking the world title. In 1989, he defeated the much bigger and younger Iron Barklin to take the middleweight title as well. Although he had some serious problems in the 1981 rematch with Leonard, in fights with Thomas Hearns, Kirkland Laing and Robbie Sims, he will be remembered as a boxer who pushed himself out of his comfort zone and managed to achieve incredible victories in three different divisions.

We're moving on to the heavies again, because it's time for Michael Spinks to hit the rankings. We have already mentioned his name as he is the man who stopped Larry Holmes. He spent the first half of the 80s building a name for himself as one of the greatest light heavyweight champions of all time. Already in 1981, he won the title of the World Boxing Association, defeating Eddie Mustafa Mohammad, then made successful defenses against Yaqui Lopez and Marvin Johnson. Two years later, Speaks also captured the World Boxing Council belt after defeating Dwight Muhammad, as well as the IBF title to become the undisputed champion. Next up are the aforementioned wins over Larry Holmes in '85 and '86 that got him so far up the rankings. Only in 1988 he was deposed from the top as Mike Tyson began to make his way into the heavyweight division.

Yes, Mike will be a mentioned name in the continuation of this ranking, but in it you will find four more who are the greatest boxers of the 1980s.